How I Got My Testimony

BY: Stephanie Anne Morrison 

Growing up my parents always worked really hard to make our home one that was Christ centered. I will never forget the big framing of Christ that hangs in their entry way, it stood as a reminder to me of what was truly valued in our home. Because of this environment, and because I was blessed to be born into the covenant I think in a lot of ways it is harder to pin point exactly when it was that I got my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

When I had just turned twelve, my oldest brother called home from his mission in Louisville, KY during Christmas time. He told us all that he was learning so much from the scriptures and challenged us as a family to each individually read the Book of Mormon on our own. Shortly after that President Gordon B. Hinckley issued his own challenge: “I offer a challenge to members of the Church throughout the world and to our friends everywhere to read or reread the Book of Mormon.”

With all of these incentives, I started to personally read from the Book of Mormon each night. Even though I had listened to Sunday school lessons, and heard the stories, much of what I read I was understanding for the first time.

I cannot explain the impact that this new habit of daily personal study brought into my life. I felt more joy in my life and I found myself caught up in the stories of the Lamanites and the Nephites. In December, at the end of that year, I finished reading the Book of Mormon for my first time.

I wanted to follow Moroni’s promise; “…that [if] ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” I found somewhere quiet and I got down on my knees and prayed to know if the book was true. In those moments I got my answer.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that Joseph Smith really did see God and that he helped bring forth the Book of Mormon. I know that Christ is my Savior and that He loves me. I know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and who listens to my prayers.

I may not know everything, and I definitely struggle with many things, but this testimony of the gospel has been my rock countless times. I know that if I rely on the Lord, I will never be lead astray.